Pro-Russian mood lingers in ex-rebel city as Ukraine vote looms
Slavyansk (Russia) (AFP) - In the war-scarred city of Slavyansk in east Ukraine few people are looking to the future with hope as they gear up for a parliamentary poll this Sunday.
For more than two months the provincial town was the epicentre of fierce fighting between Ukrainian forces and Moscow-backed rebels until the insurgents surrendered it to government troops in July in the face of a fierce onslaught.
The gutted buildings and shelled apartment blocks still testify to the ferocity of the violence and -- with some blaming Kiev for the carnage -- pro-Russian feelings still run high.
Like many other residents, pensioner Raisa Sergiivna says she will vote for pro-Moscow communists at the ballot.
"Above all, we need help to rebuild what was destroyed during the war," the 68-year-old pensioner said.
"My apartment was destroyed in a bombing," said Raisa. "I ask for help from everyone, but to no avail. My pension is miserable and the prices of medicines have increased dramatically."
She said that she pins her hopes on Yury Solod, a local businessman and the communist candidate.
"He gave the money to rebuild a kindergarten. He does practical things to help people."
Another Slavyansk resident, 51-year-old teacher Olga Konstyantynivna, will vote for the party of the pro-Western President Petro Poroshenko but says few else will.
"I see that people here do not support the authorities in Kiev," she said.
- 'Turnout will be low' -
Instead she says a lot of people will back the recently-created Opposition Bloc that is seen as representing the interests of the Regions Party of ousted former president Viktor Yanukovych, which is officially boycotting the poll.
"Many people are afraid that the war might resume. There are some people who want it, hoping that the city will be recaptured by the separatists. I am for a united Ukraine and I don?t want this horror to recommence."
In Slavyansk's central square, where Lenin's monument has been wrapped in a yellow-and-blue cloth -- Ukraine's national colours -- an election booth for Sergiy Lileyev, a candidate from the Ukrainian nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party, does not attract many people.
"Those that supported Yanukovych are very powerful in Slavyansk" and the country's eastern regions, the 30-year-old politician said.
"They buy votes and as they are in a majority on the electoral commission, they will be able to manipulate the results -- as usual," he added. "Many people will vote for the communists, and the turnout will be low."
Walking nearby with a pram, young father Ilya said he still has not decided whether to vote or not.
"We are getting some help now because of the elections, but we don't know what will happen afterwards."
He said he is happy that the Ukrainian army rebuilt a school near his home, but added that many of his friends have still not returned to Slavyansk as their homes were destroyed in the fighting.
"Most people are forced to rebuild their homes themselves because they received no help," he said.
Behind him passes a patrol of Ukrainian soldiers armed with handguns.
"It's quiet here. But we've got information that there might be provocations on the election day," said one of them, 37-year-old Vasyl Koruzhak, a member of a volunteer battalion from western Ukraine's Lviv region.
"Many bandits stayed in town and they might try to do something."
